On 31 August 2025, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the foundation stone for an 8.73-km tunnel that will link Kozhikode with Wayanad during a ceremony at St. Mary’s School Ground in Anakkampoyil.
In his address to the attendees, CM Vijayan stated that the tunnel would enhance the commercial, industrial, and tourism sectors in Malabar. He remarked, “Many projects that were once considered unfeasible are now coming to fruition.
We have instances such as the GAIL pipeline and National Highways,” emphasizing the current infrastructure developments. He attributed the revival of KIIFB as a key factor in facilitating projects worth Rs 90,000 crore despite various challenges.
The four-lane tunnel, which has a budget of Rs 2,134 crore, is expected to be completed within four years. It will stand as the longest tunnel in Kerala and the third-longest in India, providing a safer route compared to Thamarassery Pass and significantly shortening travel times to Meppadi and Sultan Bathery.
